Volunteers of America, Inc., Volunteers of America Chesapeake, Inc., Home Partnership Inc, and the Havre de Grace Housing Authority partner
Health, human services and housing nonprofit Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (VOACC) today announced its Ivy Hills project, a housing development on a 5.42 acre parcel located in Havre de Grace, is fully leased. The two- and three-story townhomes provide a total of 37 affordable apartment homes with a leasing office and community rooms. VOACC serves as a general partner and co-developer on the project and will provide residential services to the families who live there.
In Harford County, there are 11,165 renter households that are cost burdened or severely cost burdened and 15,920 owner households that are cost burdened or severely cost burdened. This represents more than thirty percent (30%) of all Harford County households, indicating a need for affordable housing assistance programs. In Havre de Grace, the poverty rate is between 19% and 35% of the population which includes between 1,511 and 2,282 households.
"There is a significant need for affordable housing in Havre de Grace with a large number of low and extremely low minority households that are cost burdened - paying more than 30% of income towards housing - or severely cost burdened - paying more than 50% of income towards housing," said Russ Snyder, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas. "We are proud to partner with Home Partnership Inc. and the housing authority to bring more affordable housing to the community."
The townhomes at Ivy Hills provide a wide range of services tailored to empower the residents and directly involve them in the management of the property. The resident services will be provided by the Havre de Grace Housing Authority, Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas and the property management firm, Humphrey Management.
"Home Partnership is honored to bring so much good to so many families," said Frank Hodgetts, CEO of Home Partnership, an organization joining business, government and the community to focus resources on community revitalization projects specific to housing. "We have great partners, including Secretary Ken Holt and his staff at Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, PNC Financial Equity Partners, Barry Glassman and Harford County Government, VOA National, VOA Chesapeake, and the Havre de Grace Housing Authority."
The project was completed in November 2020. The contractor on the project was Southway Builders, Inc.; architect was Architects by Design, Inc. and the civil engineer was GWS and Associates, Inc.
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas is a faith-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire self-reliance, dignity and hope through health and human services. The VOACC helps thousands of people each year throughout Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and the Carolinas at our programs serving: Neighbors who experience homelessness or are at risk to be homeless; individuals with mental illness; individuals with intellectual disabilities; those in need of affordable housing; those in need of supportive services; those recovering from substance abuse addictions; those involved in community corrections.
